Program Details

University of California, Santa Cruz

Is there a family leave policy for graduate students? If so, describe.

The graduate division approves unpaid Leaves of Absence. Leaves of Absence will be granted for sound educational purposes, health reasons, financial problems, and family responsibilities. Consistent with the TA union contract, paid leave is provided in many different instances including military leave, medical leave, family leave, jury duty, maternity leave, and bereavement leave.

Is there family health insurance for graduate students? If so, is it included in the stipend?

Graduate Student Health Insurance is provided by the department. Family/spouse/dependent health insurance is available, but is not covered by the department; it must be purchased through the student health center.

Please describe why someone applying to graduate school who is interested in a female-friendly department should choose your department.

The Physics Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has a long history of successfully mentoring female students. For many years, our graduate student population has been more than 25% female. Our female students have generally gone on to successful careers, in areas such as cosmology and astrophysics (academic positions, including professorships), in condensed matter physics (both academic and industrial positions), particle physics theory and experiment, and applied physics. Our department hosts a Women in Physics club for both graduate and undergraduate students with regular monthly meetings, and in Fall 2013 we will initiate a mentoring program for female physics students. Broader UCSC campus resources include an active Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) group and a STEM Career-Life Balance Resource Center. Our Physics faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students are organizing the 2015 West Coast Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics, and we previously hosted this meeting in 2010.

Has the institution had a Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit or Gender Equity Conversation?